<p>Diwali in India is just not any festival! It’s a celebration of life, happiness and prosperity; people eagerly wait for this festival the entire year, the time when families unite and gifts are exchanged. The entire nation gets into the frenzy of festivity and each house in the country dazzles with diyas, lamps and candles. It looks like all the stars have fallen down on this part of the earth to brighten and lighten everyone’s life on that day. Have a look at these Diwali pictures that perfectly capture the essence of festival of light.</p>

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<p>One of the main features of Diwali festival is the Laxmi Ganesha puja, which is considered absolutely sacred. Nothing auspicious begins without praying to Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth; and Ganesha, the God of Success. All the markets are flooded with beautiful idols of gods and goddess as this is the time when people replace the old ones with the new ones. People pray and seek blessings of the gods by offering sweets and flowers. All the celebrations are followed only after the Laxmi Ganesha puja.</p>

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Lighting diyas and candles is the most significant part of Diwali celebration. Diya, which is made using clay, is the prime ingredient of Diwali decorations and every household in the country is adorned with these pretty and colourful diyas filled with either ghee or oil. Diwali, as per the Hindu mythology, is the day when Lord Rama came back to his home town Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the demon king of Sri Lanka. It is said that residents of Ayodhya celebrated his homecoming by lighting diyas and bursting crackers, a tradition that we still follow.<br /> <br /> <strong>Must Read :</strong> <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/things-to-do/diwali-shopping-in-delhi-can-be-fun-if-you-know-where-to-go/as60838124.cms">Diwali Shopping in Delhi</a><br />

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On the day of festival of lights, there’s no sign of darkness and people deck up their houses and offices with colourful lamps and lights. These vibrant lamps take over the markets and attract Diwali shoppers in large numbers. People like to decorate the entrance of their homes with hanging lights and lamps that look absolutely beautiful. Together with the light of diyas, these make for perfect decorative Diwali items. A wide variety of these lanterns, also called aakash kandils, are common during Diwali time.<br /> <br /> <strong>Must Read :</strong> <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/things-to-do/diwali-shopping-in-mumbaibest-markets-for-the-best-deals/as60854733.cms">Diwali Shopping in Mumbai</a><br />

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Rangoli is a prime focal point of Diwali decorations generally made on home entrances. There are several ways in which rangolis can be made and one of the most common ones is using coloured powders. First the design is created on the floor using chalk or cardboard cut-outs. Once the pattern is created, it is filled with various colours or flowers to make it look prettier. But, let me tell you one thing, rangoli making is not that easy as it looks. It’s an art that requires a lot of time and patience. During Diwali, rangolis featuring peacocks, swastika and sign of Goddess Laxmi’s feet are quite common.

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Despite all the pollution and hullabaloo and slogans like ‘say no to crackers’, fireworks and crackers still are a big part of Diwali festivities. From little kids to young adults, everyone enjoys bursting crackers. Fireworks take over the country’s sky and all the colours are transported above. However, one must be extremely careful while indulging in this activity as a lot of accidents and mishaps happen because of carelessness. You will also find markets everywhere are filled with a wide range of fireworks.

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Which festival is complete without exchanging gifts and sweets? On the day of Diwali, friends and relatives get sweets and gifts for their loved ones as a token of good luck and wishes. It has become more of a custom, and this time is considered the best time for sweet shops. Kaju barfi, motichoor ke laddoo and dry fruits are some of the prime things people exchange during Diwali. These beautifully packed sweet and chocolate boxes make for perfect Diwali presents.<br /> <br /> <strong>Must Read:</strong> <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/eating-out/diwali-special-sweetsdessert-platters-from-different-indian-states/as60866764.cms">Diwali Special Sweets</a><br />

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At the end of the day, everything is about family, and festivals are the best time to celebrate and be together. The kids in the family are the most excited lot as they receive gifts (money) from the elders. Diwali is the time when people make sure to be with their parents and celebrate the festival of light together.<br /> <br /> <strong>Must Read :</strong> <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/dev-diwali-2017quick-facts-about-varnasis-festival-of-lights/as60920452.cms">Diwali 2017 in Varanasi</a><br />

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